[It should go without saying, this post contains spoilers. I would characterize them as minor spoilers - they are decontextualized quotes from throughout the series. But I don't know where you fall on the spoiler spectrum, friend, so tread carefully.]

The Netflix hit has everyone talking but while a great deal of praise has been given to the show's racially diverse cast (deserved praise, it should be noted!), there hasn't been much serious conversation about how the show actually employs these characters and to what effect. Frankly, the racial politics can feel a bit sloppy at times.

As this excellent piece from In These Times highlights, everything from its understanding of the historic and contemporary realities of how women of color move through prison to its portrayal of women of color's sexuality needs to be examined. Especially as the beginning of the series relies so heavily on on a white girl fish-out-of-water narrative to introduce the world, one cannot be blamed for starting the show with a bit of hesitation. But by the end of the season, it turns into an amazing and refreshing foray into the stories of women of color that is so rarely seen on television that you can't help but fall in love with the show.

Here are just a few of the many times this incredible ensemble cast gave me life: